What is MEU for an interpreter?
MEU is a simulation of European politics that enables young Europeans to experience first-hand the EU legislative procedure, discuss and eventually pass or reject two proposals. But to interpreters-to-be, MEU is something more: an excellent opportunity to learn, grow and practice in the European Parliament booths.
The interpreting experience at MEU is growing by the year. Since its introduction, interpreting has played a crucial role in MEU and has further increased the dynamism of the simulation. Interpreting services were first introduced in the 2010 edition and covered 5 languages. The number of languages, which between 2010 and 2012 grew from 5 to 11, will be further increased in 2013.
The main task of participants playing the role of interpreters will be interpreting speeches and debates in diverse situations, thus facilitating and enhancing communication
throughout the conduct of the simulation. MEU will let interpreters-to-be not only experience first-hand the EU decision-making process but also gain experience and simulate a real-life working environment in state-of-the-art booths, while testing interpreting skills.
Interpreters play a key role in MEU and therefore their welfare is one of our priorities. We always consider our interpreters’ needs and try to help their preparation efforts providing material, web links, and soft copies of the proposals. Creating a professional working environment is another priority as it enables interpreters to make the most out of their abilities.
What are the interpreters' tasks?
MEU is a very dynamic experience and requires great flexibility and adaptability as interpreters will work in diverse communicative situations. Interpreting services will be mainly provided in the Parliament where interpreters will simultaneously interpret speeches, debates, meetings with lobbyists and press conferences - mainly from English into their mother tongue. In regards to opening speeches, interpreters will get the text before the speaker takes the floor in order to go through it, prepare, or perform sight interpretation. During the simulation, amendments to the proposals will also be discussed. As the amendments might contain specific terminology, interpreters will receive a copy thereof before the session commences, which will create the best possible conditions for a good interpreting performance.
For the second time in MEU’s history, the Council of the European Union will also be offered interpreting services and take advantage of the enriching experience of European multilingualism. As the audience is limited, interpreting of brief statements and speeches might be delivered in consecutive interpreting. As a novelty, in 2013 MEU edition we
would like to introduce another mode of interpreting, i.e. chuchotage, which – even though absent from EU political sessions and debates – will create yet another opportunity for the interpreters to put their skills into practice. MEU offers a wide range of diverse communicative situations that test the interpreters’ skills, improve their competences and ensure professional growth in near real-life situations.
